DALLAS — Gov. Rick Perry and state environmental regulators on Thursday ripped a federal proposal to cut down on smog, saying it could kill jobs and force Texans to limit such everyday activities as mowing lawns or using drive-throughs. While environmental groups were cheering the proposal as long overdue in the state with some of the most polluted air in the nation, Perry and the leaders of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality were quick to criticize it.
The EPA proposed the new standard Thursday, replacing a Bush-era limit that ran counter to scientific recommendations. While the standard would be expensive to implement, the EPA said it would save billions in costs related to smog-related illnesses and deaths.
Perry, a longtime critic of the Environmental Protection Agency who's backed by industry groups, said the Obama administration is relying on "bad science" while endangering Texas jobs with no guarantee public health will be protected. "The EPA's only consistent target has been the target on the backs of Texas workers and taxpayers," Perry said in a statement.
Environmental Protection Agency spokesman Brendan Gilfillan said Perry would have a chance to discuss his opposition during a public hearing in Houston on Feb. 2. "Ground level ozone is a severe problem in many communities in Texas, leading to more deaths, emergency room visits and lost work and school days," Gilfillan said in a written statement.
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http://www.statesman.com/news/texas/perry-tceq-rip-proposed-smog-limits-167390.html